Modeling a screw part one: the threaded rod

I have seen this question multiple times in the forums: how do I draw a screw in SketchUp? I’m not always sure why, but the question keeps surfacing.

Often times the solution is simple: just download a screw from 3D Warehouse (there are literally thousands of them). If you MUST draw a screw from scratch, then the quickest solution is probably to grab an extension from Extension Warehouse (like EP Fasteners or Draw Wohrl).

However, my inner-trainer has a problem with this solution. “No!,” inner-trainer yells. “Teach them! Teach them the ways of the screw! Give a 3D modeler a screw, and you have helped them with a single model. Teach a 3D modeler to draw a threaded rod, and you have given them new Sketchup skills.”

In that spirit, let’s dive into modeling a screw, in two parts. Part 1: modeling a threaded rod using only native SketchUp commands.

When not supporting the sales team as a sales engineer, Aaron spends his free time designing things in SketchUp. That's it. That's all he does... oh, and he likes backpacking, skiing, drawing, painting, sculpting, and spending time with his family!